Minute books of various Committees of the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR).

In 1974 SASO/BPC members were arrested for staging Viva Frelimo rallies at Curries Fountain and at Turfloop University, and charged. They were Saths Cooper, Muntu Myeza, Strini Moodley, Patrick ‘Terror’ Lekota, Nchaupe Mokoape, Pandelani Nefolovhodwe, Nkwenkwe Nkomo, Kaborone Sedibe and Zithulele Cindi. Their trial, officially known as 'State vs Cooper and Eight Others', dragged on for 16 months, after which the accused were found guilty and sentenced to five and six-year terms on Robben Island.

Steve Biko appeared as one of the defence witnesses in the trial in May 1976, and his testimony is included in the court records. The records also include 'The Definition of Black Consciousness'.

The trial records of what would become known as the Rivonia trial originate from the defense attorneys for the accused.

The Committee was established by the Department of Education, to investigate the disturbances at state-aided educational institutions for Africans, with boarding establishments. The Chairman of the Committee was D.McK. Malcom, and the members were D.D.T. Jabavu, R.E. Phillips and H.R. Storey. The Report was released on the 26 July 1947.

Records relating to the inquests on Joseph Mdluli (28 Aug. 1976), Storey Luke Mazwembe (7 Sep. 1976), Mathews Mabelane (14 Apr. 1977), George Botha (3 May 1977, Ernest Mamshila (14 Nov. 1977) and Bonaventure Malaza (5 May 1978).

The collection contains the records of the trial of the State v. Glenn Moss and Four Others, on charge of contravening the Suppression of Communism Act (Act 44, 1950). The co-accused were Charles David Nupen, Edward Charles Webster, Paul Cedric De Beer and Karel Simon Tip.

Included are the indictment, exhibits, photos, incomplete trial record, State's argument and comments on the evidence of A.H. Murray.

Correspondence, memoranda and press clippings on unrest, banishments and removals.

Collection of photographs, including images of resistance, strikes, political trials, organisations and individuals. Images have been sourced from various suppliers and publications.

The "B" box collection relates mainly to the period 1930 to 1950, although there are some documents as early as 1926 and some all late as 1961. This inventory boar the title "Part I" as there have been subsequent deposits of the Institute's archives which will be inventoried at a later date.

The "B" box collection has been retained as an entity in accordance with Standard archival practice and the files have been kept in their original order. Many of the files overlap and contain material irrelevant to the subject matter of the file. In view of the extensive use made of the collection over the last ten years by researchers who took references according to the then existing arrangement, it was decided not to re-sort. The present box numbers have been retained, but the files which previously bore an alphabetical notation have now been given a numerical one, e.g. the original 4f now becomes 4.6.

This inventory lists the number of items in each file, mention the names of the principal correspondents, indicates the subject field and itemises anything of particular importance. A brief sketch of the Institute is included and a comprehensive index of all personal names mentioned in the inventory and of selective subject fields has been provided, thus bringing together scattered subjects. The words "Native", "African", "Bantu" and "Non-European" have been used where they were the approved nomenclature of the day.

Subjects covered are the social and economic conditions of Blacks, Coloureds and Indians, with particular reference to education, literacy, land, farm labour, labour relations, housing, the urban Black, health and welfare services, medical training, juvenile delinquency, the liquor problem, discriminatory legislation and penal reform. This collection, covering almost three decades, in of great importance to economic, social and political historians.

Anna M. Cunningham, 1 August 1981.